What is pentecost in the new testament

Pentecost is a significant event in the New Testament of the Bible, which is described in Acts 2:1-47. It is also known as the "Descent of the Holy Spirit" or "Pentecost Sunday."

According to the biblical account, Pentecost occurred 50 days after Jesus' resurrection and 10 days after his ascension into heaven. The event is described as follows:

"On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:2-4, NIV)

The event is often referred to as the "birthday of the church" because it marks the beginning of the Christian church as we know it today. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in languages they had not previously known, and to proclaim the gospel to people from all over the world.

The significance of Pentecost can be summarized as follows:

  1. Empowerment of the disciples: The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak in languages they had not previously known, enabling them to spread the gospel to a wider audience.
  2. Birth of the church: Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian church as we know it today, as the disciples began to spread the message of Jesus Christ to the world.
  3. Gift of tongues: The gift of tongues, also known as glossolalia, was a sign of the Holy Spirit's presence and power, and it allowed the disciples to communicate with people from different languages and cultures.
  4. Confirmation of Jesus' teachings: Pentecost was a fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after his ascension (John 14:26, 15:26-27, 16:7).
  5. Establishment of the church's mission: Pentecost marked the beginning of the church's mission to spread the gospel to all nations, as described in Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Overall, Pentecost is a significant event in the New Testament that highlights the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, and it marks the beginning of the Christian church's mission to spread the gospel to the world.